January 28, 2025 – England stormed back into the T20I series with a commanding 26-run victory over India in the third match of the five-game series. This victory narrowed India’s lead to 2-1, setting the stage for an exciting finish with two matches still to play.
Defending what initially seemed a modest total of 171 runs, England’s bowlers rose to the occasion, delivering a disciplined and aggressive performance. Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, and Brydon Carse set the tone early by each taking a wicket in the Powerplay, putting India on the back foot. Adil Rashid then spun a web in the middle overs, dismissing the dangerous Tilak Varma and restricting the flow of runs. Rashid’s variations in pace and skillful control helped England maintain pressure, and Jamie Overton capitalized at the death, claiming three vital wickets to seal the win.
India’s batting struggles were once again evident, especially after losing key wickets early. Despite Abhishek Sharma’s explosive start, his dismissal triggered a collapse, with the top order unable to withstand England’s relentless attack. Washington Sundar and Hardik Pandya attempted to rebuild with a cautious partnership, but Sundar fell at a crucial juncture. Axar Patel tried to contribute but failed to accelerate, leaving too much for Pandya to do in the end. India’s middle-order vulnerabilities were exposed as they succumbed to England’s bowling brilliance, folding under pressure during the final overs.
Earlier, India’s skipper Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and opted to field, anticipating a dew factor later in the match. England’s innings began shakily, with Phil Salt failing once again. However, Ben Duckett and captain Jos Buttler steadied the innings, countering India’s spinners effectively. Varun Chakravarthy was once again the standout bowler for India, claiming a remarkable five-wicket haul. Despite losing wickets in clusters, England’s tailenders, particularly Adil Rashid and Mark Wood, added crucial runs to push the total to a competitive 171.
In the post-match presentation, Rashid credited the team’s collective bowling effort and emphasized the importance of his variations in exploiting the pitch. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav acknowledged their batting flaws, stressing the need to improve in both rotating the strike and capitalizing on key moments. England skipper Jos Buttler lauded Rashid’s brilliance and praised his pacers for stepping up in crucial situations.
The fourth T20I, scheduled for January 31 in Pune, promises to be a high-stakes encounter as England aim to level the series while India look to bounce back and seal it.